OLYMPIA, Wash. — As we near the start of spring, it will soon be time once again to move our clocks ahead one hour. Sunday, March 10 marks the start of Daylight Saving Time and the first of two time changes we will experience this year.
The time change comes despite efforts from Washington lawmakers, so why do we still do it? Let's Verify.
THE QUESTION
Why do people in Washington still need to change their clocks twice a year?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
For decades now we’ve been making the switch. Moving our clocks ahead one hour in the spring and then back an hour in the fall. The time change comes despite Washington state lawmakers voting to make Daylight Saving Time permanent.
In 2019 Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent in the state.
However, the law noted, “Under federal law… states are not permitted to observe daylight saving time year round.” That’s because of the federal 'Uniform Time Act,' which was passed in 1966. The act gives states the ability to opt out of daylight saving time but no option to stay on it.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only Congress can decide to make daylight saving time permanent year-round.
With no action from Congress, Washington State Senator Mike Padden of Spokane Valley introduced a bill that would ditch the switch... but with a twist.
"So, we've waited, and waited, and waited and people are getting tired of the switch," Sen. Padden said at a hearing in January. "So, in lieu of not adopting the Daylight [Saving] Time, we are going to Permanent Standard."
Padden’s bill would have kept the state on Standard Time all year round, at least until Congress cleared the path for permanent Daylight Saving Time.
"One thing that I think most people agree on is the dislike of moving their clocks backward and forward," Padden said.
The bill failed to make it out of the short session, so, on Sunday, it will be time once again to make the switch and move your clocks ahead one hour.
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